Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Diego
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on an alternating schedule on your regular collection day.
Yard Waste
Organic waste is collected once weekly on the same day as your trash.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste services are managed by the Environmental Services Department. You can look up your exact collection day, manage container sizes, and report issues through the City's Get It Done portal.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
The City offers a Solid Waste Management Fee Financial Assistance Program (administered with MAAC) for eligible low-income homeowners earning at or below 60% of the State Median Income or enrolled in programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or LIHEAP.
Gray (or Legacy Black) Bin (Trash)
To prevent litter in San Diego's neighborhoods and canyons, all loose refuse must be bagged or wrapped before being placed in the gray trash bin. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and film
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, dry, and placed loosely in the blue bin. Do not bag your recyclables, as plastic bags jam the gears at the Material Recovery Facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, hangers)
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not collect organic waste in plastic, compostable plastic, or biodegradable plastic bags. Use only paper bags, or layer your food scraps directly in the bin with yard waste to absorb moisture.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and tree roots
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, meat, and bones
- ✓Dairy products and eggshells
- ✓Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Currently Paused (No on-demand curbside service for city-serviced homes)
Placement
Do not leave bulky items on the curb outside of a sanctioned Community Cleanup event, as illegal dumping is actively enforced. For authorized events, follow the specific drop-off or curbside instructions provided.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Rugs and carpeting
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Commercial or contractor-generated waste
- ✕ Tires
Community Cleanup events are free when available in your district. Taking items directly to the Miramar Landfill incurs a standard flat-rate disposal fee based on your vehicle type and the weight of the load.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a City-observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash collection is pushed back one day for the remainder of that week. For example, Thursday pickups will occur on Friday, and Friday pickups will occur on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organic waste and blue recycling bins follow the exact same delayed holiday schedule as the gray trash bins.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is generally no delay in the weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December - JanuarySan Diego offers a robust Christmas tree recycling program. Residents can drop off clean, un-flocked trees at various designated park locations across the city or cut them up to fit entirely inside their green organics bin.
Year-Round
January - DecemberBecause organic materials are processed locally at the Miramar Greenery, the city periodically hosts free compost giveaway events for San Diego residents. Check the ESD website for upcoming dates.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Your Curbside Collection Bins
San Diego's Environmental Services Department employs a three-cart system to streamline waste management across the city. Residents are responsible for sorting materials into specific bins: the gray container for standard refuse, the blue cart for mixed recyclables, and the green bin dedicated exclusively to organic waste. This green bin is especially crucial for complying with state laws regarding food scraps and yard trimmings. Ensuring that items are correctly separated helps prevent landfill overflow and keeps the recycling stream clean. Never pack your trash too tightly, as the automated trucks need loose contents to empty everything completely.
Proper Street Placement and Timings
Timing and positioning are everything when it comes to a successful trash day in San Diego. All carts must be wheeled out to your designated alleyway or curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup day. Make sure the wheels are touching the curb and the handle faces your property. To allow the automated truck arms enough room to operate, you must leave a minimum of three feet of clearance between each container, as well as keeping them away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and trees. Additionally, city municipal codes require all emptied bins to be removed from the public right-of-way by 6:00 p.m. that same evening.
Schedule Adjustments for Holidays
Your typical collection routine will occasionally shift due to major city-observed holidays. The Environmental Services Department halts operations on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When these holidays occur during the workweek, all subsequent collections are pushed back by exactly one day. For example, if the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday, Tuesday neighborhoods will be serviced on Wednesday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday. If your bins are ever skipped on a regular non-holiday week, you can quickly report a missed collection by calling 858-694-7000 or using the city's online portal.
Dealing with Bulky Waste and Prohibited Materials
Not everything can be tossed into your residential carts. Dumping construction debris, hot ashes, liquids, and hazardous chemicals like paint or motor oil into your gray bin is strictly prohibited because they pose severe risks to sanitation workers and the local environment. If you have large appliances, heavy furniture, or electronic waste, you cannot leave them on the curb alongside your regular trash. Instead, San Diego residents should explore dedicated household hazardous waste drop-off locations or look into scheduling a specialty pickup for oversized items. Utilizing the city's WasteFreeSD resources can help you figure out exactly how to donate or dispose of unusual objects.
Drop-off Facilities
Miramar Landfill & Recycling Center
5180 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111
Materials Accepted
Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility
5161 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111 (Entrance at Convoy St. and State Route 52)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I being charged for trash collection in San Diego now?
Following the passage of Measure B, the city ended the century-old People's Ordinance that provided free trash pickup. The city now assesses a Solid Waste Management Fee on annual property tax bills to cover the costs of weekly refuse and organics collection, bi-weekly recycling, and new bin replacements.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in San Diego?
Currently, the City of San Diego does not offer an on-demand, curbside bulky item pickup for single-family homes. You must either haul your large items to the Miramar Landfill (where fees apply) or wait for a scheduled Community Cleanup event in your City Council district.
What holidays actually delay my trash pickup in San Diego?
The Environmental Services Department delays service by one day only for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, the rest of the week's pickups shift one day forward.
Can I use compostable bags for my food scraps in the green bin?
No. The City of San Diego prohibits all types of plastic bags in the green organics bin, including those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable.' You must keep your food scraps loose, wrap them in newspaper, or use a standard paper bag.